Mrs. Lapointe

Today in class we reviewed:

1. Wrist check – having a straight wrist (Left hand) with your thumb on your thumb cushion means that the wrist doesn’t touch the violin or support it’s weight at all. (refer back to chin check)
2. note B – first finger (left hand) squeezes A string on first tape (closest to scroll).
3. Table taps – a warm up exercise…Read more

In class we sight read God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen parts A, B, & snare drum.

We learned vocabulary:

1. system – section of music containing multiple staves (in this case 3) or parts.
2. pick up notes – songs that start with an incomplete measure (less than the number beats of the time signature) also phrases, within a song, that do not start on…Read more

In class we reviewed:
1. Batman Warm Up B
2. Lessons R4.

In the music book there are 5 “R” lessons – they are meant to review in a quick overview all the material that was learned from the green book in previous years. As we work through these 5 lessons we will be going over note names, fingerings, and rhythms that may have been forgotten over…Read more

Today in class we reviewed:

1. Notes E, F & G (trumpets)
2. Notes D, Eb & F (trombones)
3. variations on quarter note and quarter rest rhythms (drum)
4. Lesson 1 Line 1, Lesson 2 line 1, & Lesson 2 line 3.
5. Articulation – starting the notes with the tongue using the same motion as if you are saying the word too.

Today in class we learned:

1.…Read more

Today in class we reviewed:
1A. G clef (trumpets)
1B. Bass clef (Trombone)
2. 4/4 time signature
3. whole notes & whole rests.
4. articulation – using your tongue to start notes in the same motion as if you were saying the word too.
5. Lesson 1 lines 4-7.

Today in class we learned:
1. Notes F & G (trumpets)
2. Notes Eb & F (trombones)
3. v…Read more

Today in class we reviewed:
1A. How to finger the note E (Trumpets)
1B. Where 4th position is on the trombone slide.
2A. What the note E sounds like (trumpets)
2B. What the note D sounds like (trombone)
3. Reading music lesson 1 in the book.
4. Listening to the sound that our instrument makes when we play. If it is too high relax face muscles to…Read more

Today in class we reviewed:

1. Clarinet – notes E, F, & G
2. Saxophone – notes B, C, & D
3. Whole notes & Whole Rests (Lesson 1 & 2)
4. Articulation – touching tongue to the reed to start notes as if saying the word too.

Today in class we learned:
1. Lesson 3
2. Clarinet – notes C & D
3. Saxophone – notes G & A
4. half notes & half…

In class we reviewed:
1A. notes F & G (clarinets)
1B. notes C & D (saxohpones)
2. Lesson 2 in the music book.
3. Articulation: using the tongue to start a note. The tongue should move inside the mouth as if you are saying the word too. The tip of the tongue should briefly touch the reed at the beginning of every note.
4. How to count music before…Read more

Today in class we reviewed:

1. How to count music before we play:
(Clarinets) E-2-3-4, rest-2-3-4, E-2-3-4, rest-2-3-4, etc.
(flutes) D-2-3-4, rest-2-3-4, D-2-3-4, rest-2-3-4, etc.
2 Articulation: using the tongue to start a note. The tongue should move inside the mouth as if you are saying the word too. The tip of the tongue should briefly…Read more

Today in class we reviewed:

1A. the parts of the flute: body & foot – how to assemble the instrument. Line up your tone hole on the head with the keys on the body & line up the rod (not the keys) on your foot with the keys on your body.
1B. parts of the clarinet: bell, lower joint, upper joint – how to assemble the instrument.
**VERY IMP…Read more

Today in class we reviewed:

1A. the parts of the flute: body & foot – how to assemble the instrument. Line up your tone hole on the head with the keys on the body & line up the rod (not the keys) on your foot with the keys on your body.
1B. parts of the clarinet: bell, lower joint, upper joint – how to assemble the instrument.
**VERY IMP…Read more

Today in class we reviewed:
1. Counting music using the number system 1+ 2+ 3+ 4+.
3. finger positions (left hand) for notes G, F#, & E on the D string.
4. Reading music page 6 EEB1

Today in class we learned:

1. Table taps – (left hand) lay hand on flat surface tap 1 finger at a time (4 taps for each finger) without raising the others off the s…Read more

Today in class we reviewed:
1. Counting music using the number system 1+ 2+ 3+ 4+.
3. finger positions (left hand) for notes G, F#, & E on the D string.
4. Reading music page 6 EEB1

Today in class we learned:
1. Table taps – (left hand) lay hand on flat surface tap 1 finger at a time (4 taps for each finger) without raising the others off the…Read more

Today in class we reviewed:

1. G clef symbol at the beginning of each line of music.
2. Time signature 4/4 symbol at the beginning of each line of music. This means that our music is grouped in 4 beat measures.
3. Quarter note A’s = 1 beat, quarter note D’s = 1 beat, & quarter rests = 1 beat silence.
4. Reading music lines 2 – 5 on page 4 in th…Read more

You should review:
1. the fingering for Bb and C
2. Lesson B in their music book
3. the fingering for D
4. Lesson C lines 1, 2, & 3
5. how to swab out the flute at the end of practicing with the cleaning rod and a cloth.

You can start practicing:
1. Lesson C lines 4-9. These lines use the notes Bb, C, & D in different combinations.
2. Count each…Read more

Today in class we reviewed:
1. G clef symbol at the beginning of each line of music.
2. Time signature 2/4 symbol at the beginning of each line of music. This means that our music is grouped in 2 beat measures.
3. Short A’s = 1 beat or quarter note (black head) & long A’s = 2 beats or half note (white head).
4. Reading music lines 4 & 5 on Les…Read more

Today in class we reviewed:
1. G clef symbol at the beginning of each line of music.
2. Time signature 2/4 symbol at the beginning of each line of music. This means that our music is grouped in 2 beat measures.
3. Short A’s = 1 beat or quarter note (black head) & long A’s = 2 beats or half note (white head).
4. Reading music lines 4 & 5 on Les…Read more

Today in class we reviewed:
drums:
Lesson 1 Sheet music lines 3-5.

Clarinet:
1. Notes F & G
2. Proper sitting posture for playing instruments
3. Lesson 2 in the music book

Students should review what they learned through the week before the next lesson.

For our next class students should bring:
1. an instrument
2. music folder with sheet music…Read more

Today in class we reviewed:
Drums:
1. Lesson 1 (sheet music) Lines 1 & 2. Be careful to play only on the beats with notes, as some beats have rests.
2. time signature 4/4
3. repeat sign

Clarinet:
1. parts of the clarinet – bell, lower joint, upper joint, “draw bridge” key connecting upper & lower joints.
2. treble or G clef & the whole note E
2.…Read more

In our first class we reviewed:
Drums:
1. drum assembly.
2. hand position on drum sticks.
3. where to strike the drum.
4. Lesson 1 sheet music – quarter notes & rests.
5. maintaining steady pulse while alternating hands.

Clarinet:
1. parts of the clarinet – mouthpiece, reed, ligature, & barrel.
2. Assembly of clarinet mouthpiece, reed, lig…Read more